A puppet beast capable of unleashing divine-level combat power is still merely called a puppet beast.
Yet, the Earth Demon Sparrow is deemed a divine artefact, one of the three guardian treasures of the Origin Temple.
Such a supreme treasure, if wielded by a god with sufficiently powerful spiritual strength, could push its internal celestial mechanism to the extreme, unleashing unimaginable combat power.
Zhang Ruochen developed a strong interest in the Earth Demon Sparrow, but he knew its spirit was both evil and formidable. Even with the Dragon-Sun-Moon Chaos Tower, he could likely only destroy the spirit, not subdue it.
Concerned for A Le, Haitang Granny, and the others outside, Zhang Ruochen turned his gaze back to the six divine swords and said, “Honourable sword spirits, I have inherited the Sword Ancestor’s legacy and vowed to revive the way of the sword. Will you emerge to aid me?”
The most intact sword, the eldest, replied, “I sense the aura of swordsmanship mysteries in you, along with an unparalleled spirit of the sword, making you the ideal candidate for us six swords to acknowledge as master. Alas, your cultivation is too weak.”
“At your realm, your swordsmanship is impressive. But, alas, such mastery is still insignificant compared to a Sword God.”
“My weight rivals that of a star, capable of crushing a great world. Even if I wished to acknowledge you, I am too heavy for you to wield or carry.”
“You haven’t even cultivated the Saint Intent of Swordsmanship. How can we accept you as our master?”
…
The words of the six divine swords were sharper than their blades, capable of piercing hearts.
The Burial Gold White Tiger, bound by fate to Zhang Ruochen, naturally hoped he could claim the six swords. It revealed its true form and said, “If you agree to accept him as your master, I can carry the swords for him.”
“Oh! A divine being.”
“A divine being acknowledges him as master. Who is this young man?”
…
The six divine swords began chattering again.
The Burial Gold White Tiger was inwardly furious. Acknowledge him as master? Zhang Ruochen and I are equals, aren’t we?
For the sake of securing the six swords, it held back and did not explain.
At this moment, Ji Fanxin, standing quietly behind Zhang Ruochen, spoke, “If he can break the boundaries of heaven and earth’s rules and condense a third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship, would you acknowledge him as your master?”
All voices fell silent.
One sword said, “Impossible. A third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship doesn’t exist in this world, just as a perfectly flawless sword cannot exist.”
Another sword added, “The Saint Intent of Swordsmanship can only infinitely approach third-grade, never reaching it.”
“What if he succeeds?” Ji Fanxin asked.
The eldest sword declared firmly, “If he can condense a third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship, he would be unprecedented. If we don’t acknowledge him, who else would we choose?”
Ji Fanxin turned to Zhang Ruochen and said, “That day in the Hundred Clans’ Royal City, you asked me to help you condense a third-grade Swordsmanship Mystery. I refused.”
Zhang Ruochen, slightly embarrassed, said apologetically, “I understand. I was too rash then. Let’s not mention it again.”
Ji Fanxin shook her head and said, “Actually, I wasn’t entirely unwilling to help you.”
Zhang Ruochen was slightly stunned.
Ji Fanxin stepped forward gracefully, her delicate frame standing beneath the blood moon, facing Zhang Ruochen directly. She said, “Back then, your swordsmanship was far inferior to now. You hadn’t even cultivated the Heavenly Sword Soul or received the blessing of swordsmanship mysteries. Even with my help, you had no chance of success.”
“But now, the timing and conditions are perfect. With my full assistance, you might just succeed.”
Zhang Ruochen had learned from Mo Yin that after floral beings cultivate a physical body, their flowers bloom only for the one they love most.
Though he deeply desired to condense a third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship and claim the six divine swords, he did not wish to burden Ji Fanxin. The cost was too great.
“You don’t have to do this, Fairy,” Zhang Ruochen said, shaking his head firmly.
Ji Fanxin extended a snowy-white finger, pointing to the sky where the six swords hung.
At the centre of the six swords was a cloud of chaotic, misty light, as if containing an endless sea of stars, with all things arising and perishing within.
She said, “The six swords lock away vast mysteries of origin, forming a cloud of origin there. That is your advantage. Amidst abundant origin mysteries, you can surely craft the most perfect Saint Intent of Swordsmanship. I have faith in you. Do you?”
Zhang Ruochen gazed at her exquisitely defined profile, seeing her resolve.
Gradually, he calmed himself, no longer hesitating, and said, “If you, Fanxin, assist me, I have full confidence to strive for the third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship. I will never forget this kindness. In the vast mortal world, through heaven and earth, I will never betray you.”
Ji Fanxin’s gaze was profound, then she smiled faintly, “You needn’t bear such a heavy burden. If my heart held no love, I would never give myself to you. Since my heart holds love, I take responsibility for my decisions now. If one day we drift apart, and I leave you or ignore you, don’t come looking for me. That would mean my heart no longer holds love for you.”
Bai Qinger, watching them, chuckled softly, “Today, the Fairy is tainted, consorting with a great villain. How many cultivators in the Heavenly Court and myriad realms will weep in sorrow?”
Neither paid her any mind.
“Swish!”
“Swish!”
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin transformed into two streaks of light, flying toward the sky where the six swords resided.
The closer they got, the more they felt the immense presence of the six swords, each over ten li long, heavy and searing, their divine power seemingly piercing through heaven and earth.
A deep voice resounded from within one sword, “You may enter the mist of origin mysteries to condense the Saint Intent. But the origin mysteries are reserved for our future master. If you fail to condense a third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship, don’t expect to take a single shred of the mysteries away.”
“If you try to take the origin mysteries by force, you will be cut down.”
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin passed between two of the swords, plunging into the mist of origin mysteries.
In Bai Qinger’s view, as soon as Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin touched the mist, their bodies rapidly shrank, becoming two specks of light that merged into it.
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin felt a violent sense of weightlessness, arriving in a boundless chaotic ocean.
This ocean was vast and misty, filled with countless white specks of light and fleeting strands of ethereal mist.
“Are these the origin mysteries?”
Zhang Ruochen reached out to grasp a white speck.
But the speck slipped away instantly, refusing to merge with his body.
The mysteries of truth, fate, space, and swordsmanship that Zhang Ruochen possessed were either gifted to him or seized with the Heart of Truth, so they remained in his body, stable and unyielding.
However, mysteries freely drifting in the world were not so easily obtained.
Ji Fanxin, on the other hand, was entirely different.
As she arrived, the surrounding origin mystery specks became highly active, landing on her skin and merging into her body.
Her fair, delicate frame glowed like an immortal lantern, growing ever more crystalline and emitting a rich floral fragrance.
Ji Fanxin said, “Wonderful. My body can indeed absorb the origin mysteries and channel them to you. Are you ready?”
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Their clothes vanished.
Ji Fanxin raised her stunningly beautiful face, her jade-like arms wrapping around Zhang Ruochen’s neck. They embraced, their lips meeting.
…
(Omitted ten thousand words here.)
“Crash!”
After an unknown time, Ji Fanxin’s physical form dispersed, transforming into a massive, snow-white God-Illuminating Lotus beneath Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen shifted, sitting cross-legged.
His strong, upright frame was already filled with vast origin mysteries, all received from Ji Fanxin’s body.
The Heavenly Sword Soul hovered above his head.
Around him, countless swordsmanship rules flew, dense and numerous.
The rules took the form of swords, converging into a river.
Even more mysterious swordsmanship mysteries blended with the river of swordsmanship rules.
Though he had expended energy earlier, Zhang Ruochen remained full of vigour, brimming with stamina, determined to condense the Saint Intent of Swordsmanship in one go.
He took out the Emperor-Grade Saint Intent Pill.
The pill’s spirit also took the form of a God-Illuminating Lotus, possessing the cultivation level of a Supreme Saint. However, when it was formed, its spirit’s power was sealed at the peak of the Thousand-Ask Realm.
In the world of pill refinement, the highest grade of Saint Intent Pill could only reach King-Grade.
Yet, when the Yama Clan’s Grand Supreme personally refined them, ten near-Emperor-Grade pills emerged. The Emperor-Grade Saint Intent Pill was an unexpected marvel even the Grand Supreme hadn’t anticipated.
It was precisely this unparalleled, rule-breaking Emperor-Grade Saint Intent Pill that gave Zhang Ruochen the ambition to strive for the third-grade Saint Intent of Swordsmanship.
“Crack!”
With a wave of his hand, the pill’s spirit seal shattered.
A terrifying force, comparable to a full strike from a Supreme Saint, erupted from within the Emperor-Grade Saint Intent Pill, forcing Zhang Ruochen’s hands apart as it tried to fly away.
“Come back!”
Zhang Ruochen invoked the mysteries of space and opened his mouth to inhale.
Space twisted, reversing the pill’s trajectory, and it flew into Zhang Ruochen’s mouth, swallowed whole.
After all, it was just a pill. Despite its Supreme Saint-level cultivation, it lacked corresponding combat power, far inferior even to the Saint-Devouring Flower.
“Rumble.”
The Emperor-Grade Saint Intent Pill dissolved in Zhang Ruochen’s abdomen, unleashing an impact his demigod physique could barely withstand.
His internal organs nearly shattered, turning to blood and mud.
Intense pain assaulted his nerves and will, but he clenched his teeth, his body unmoving, his hands forming sword gestures, rapidly circulating his cultivation technique.
Gradually, the energy of the Emperor-Grade Saint Intent Pill fused with the blood and flesh in his abdomen, reconstructing his organs.
As the pill fully integrated with his body, it subtly transformed his swordsmanship rules, sword soul, and sword intent.
The rules of swordsmanship took on a form closer to the perfect shape of a sword.
…
There will be another chapter tonight.
A note: I receive many QQ messages daily, and my inbox explodes when I open it. I can’t reply to every single one, or I’d have no time to write. I can only respond to some.
Regarding a reader’s comment on the previous chapter about swordsmanship, I addressed it on Tieba today, and I’ll repeat it here. In the eyes of the six divine swords, swordsmanship is naturally the greatest, capable of breaking all paths in the world. The way of the blade is merely a minor path, and the eternal paths are insignificant.
If it were a divine blade, it would surely say swordsmanship is a minor path, and the eternal paths are insignificant.
If it were the Dark Temple, it would claim the way of darkness is unmatched, and fate and truth are insignificant.
…
Ultimately, the strength of a path depends on the cultivator.
